Shoe filler



April 15, 1930. c. c. EATON 1554,22;

SHOE F'ILLER Filed Dec. 50. 1926 3v SheeiS-rSheer. l

` z@ MTA/5,5556 3mm/tov April 15, 1930. C, Q EATON 1,754,225

SHOE FILLER Filed Dec, .'50, 1926 3 SheetS-Sheet 2 Patented Apr. 15, 1930 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CHARLES C. EATON, OF BROCKTON, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGN- MENTS, TO ERNEST A. GRAY, F AUGUSTA, MAINE SHOE FILLER Application filed December 30, 1926. Serial 110.158,04.

cork with a binder of glucose, cement or some l0. other plastic or non-plastic substance. These fillers do not bring about the best results, due to the tendency of the iiller to bunch, mat or creep and tend to firmly bind the inner and 1 outer soles together thus preventing the wformation of a shoe with the desired elasticity and give.

Tt is therefore one of the primary objects of this invention to provide a novel shoe filler which will preserve its original shape 2U under all conditions and not mat or creep and which will allow a certain movement or give between the inner and outer soles both laterally and longitudinally whereby a shoe with a maximum amount of elasticity can be con- 'structed which is essential for the proper preservation of the feet.

Another salient object of the invention is to provide a novel shoe filler constructed from sheetr sponge rubber which not only gives the desired elasticity in the shoe but which also gives a certain resiliency thereto.

T am aware that attempts have been made and patents have been granted on devices to overcome these diiiculties, such as on a filler constructed from rubber provided with air channels. The filler constructed from rubber with longitudinal air channels fails to give the desired results, in that the ribs between the channels tend to break down and the inner sole tends to take the shape of the ribs causing hard ridges, which bear against the sole of the foot.

Through countless experiments, it has been found that sheet sponge rubber fulfills every requirement desired and that the sponge rubber forms a continuous support for the foot throughout the entire area thereof and the sponge rubber will not bind the inner and outer soles together but allows a certain movement between the soles, which permits the free flexing of the soles.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists in the novel construction, arrangement and formation of parts, as will be hereinafter more specifically described, claimed and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which drawings:

Figure 1 is a bottom plan view of an inner sole showing the novel filler incorporated therewith,

Figure 2 is a transverse section through the inner sole and filler taken on the line'2--2 of Figure l,

Figure 3 is a longitudinal section through the inner sole and filler taken on the line 3 of Figure 1,

Figure 4 is a transverse section through a complete shoe with the filler arranged between the inner and outer soles,

Figure 5 is a fragmentary sectional perspective view showing the shoe prior to the sewing of the various parts,

Figure 6 is a bottom plan view of an inner sole with the filler incorporated therewith, the filler terminating short of the heel portion of the sole,

Figure 7 is a section taken on the line 7--7 of Figure 6,

Figure 8 is a bottom plan view of an inner sole with the filler incorporated therewith on the sole portion of the shoe only,

Figure 9 is a longitudinal section through the inner sole and filler taken on the line 9 9 of Figure 8,

y Figure l() is a transverse section taken on the line 10-10 of Figure 9 looking in the direction of the arrows,

Figure 1l is a bottom plan view of an inner sole with the improved filler attached, the filler covering the sole, shank and entire heel portion of the inner sole, and

Figure l2 is a transverse section throughv the heel portion of the inner sole and filler taken on the line 12-12 of Figure 1l looking in the direction of the arrows.

Referring to the drawings in detail. wherein similar reference charactersdesignate corresponding parts throughout the several views the letter A generally indicates an "amA inner sole and B the novel filler therefor which forms the important feature of the present invention.

The inner sole A can be of the usual or any preferred construction and as shown the same includes the sole portion 15 the heel portion 16 and the connecting instep portion 17 The marginal edge of the sole A is slit as at 18 and the portion of sole below the slit is bent down to provide the upper and welt attaching shoulder 19. This attaching shoulder 19 forms a pocket 2O which receives the filler B. The upper 21 and the welt 22 are connected to the inner sole by the means of stitching 28 in the ordinary manner as clearly shown in Figure 4 after which the outer or wear sole 24 is stitched as at 24 to the welt.

The filler B, as heretofore stated, forms the most important part of the present invention and is constructed from sponge rubber of the desired thickness. This rubber is cut to conform to the exact size of the pocket and includes the sole portion 25, the instep portion 26 and the heel portion 27 which terminates short of the marginal edge of said heel portion. The filler B can be glued to the lower face of the inner sole but the bottom face of the filler is left smooth, so that a certain amount of conforming will be allowed between the filler and the outer sole.

Owing to the inherent qualities of sponge rubber, the sponge rubber will form a support for the foot throughout the entire area and the rubber will not break down, bunch or mat. The fact that the rubber is to a great extent porous, allows the free circulation of air therethrough and thus prevents perspiring of the feet. I

After the wear or outer sole 24 is in pos1- E which is also formed of sponge rubber and which is of substantially the same form as the .iiller B, in that the same embodies the sole 40, the instep or shank portion 41 and the heel 42. rlhe main difference between the fillers B and E is the heel portion 42 of the filler E extends to the edge of the inner sole and thus covers the completeheel thereof.

Changes in details may be made without departing from the spirit or scope-of this invention, but:

What I claim as new is:

1. In a shoe, an inner solehaving a depending attaching shoulder defining an interior pocket, a welt, an upper, means securing the welt and upper to the inner sole, and an outer wear sole connected to the welt, a filler comprising an integral sheet of sponge rubber disposed wholly in the pocket, and an adhesive connecting the sheet sponge rubber filler to the lower face of the inner sole, the said filler being marginally confined by said shoulder and having its lower 'face in the same plane as the lower face of the shoulder and engaged by the outer wear sole.

2. The combination with a shoe sole of the welt type comprising a wear sole, an inner sole having a depending attaching shoulder, and a welt around said shoulder, of a sheet of sponge rubber arranged between the wear and inner soles, the said filler being marginally confined by) said shoulder and having its lower face terminating in the same plane as the lower edge of the shoulder..

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

CHARLES C. EATON.

tion, as shown in Figure 4 the sponge rubber filler is entirely encased and protected from injury and the sponge rubber will allow Hexing of the sole laterally and longitudinally thereby giving a shoe a maximum amount of flexibility.

In Figures 6 and 7 I have shown a filler C which is also constructed of sponge rubber and which acts in the same manner as the filler B, the only difference being that the filler C embodies only a sole portion 30 and a shank or instep portion 31. Thus in this instance a filler is not provided for the heel of the shoe.

While it is the primary object of my invention to provide a shoe of an extremely iexible nature, some manufacturers insist on using asupporting shank, indicated by the reference numeral as shown in dotted lines in Figure 8 of the drawings. In this instance a filler D is provided which only embodies a sole portion as shown in Figures 8 and 9 the rear edge of the sole portion of the filler I) can be tapered as at 36 for receiving the forward end of the supporting shank 35.

In Flgures 11 and 12 I have shown a filler 

